Can I legally cross when the orange hand is flashing?

Once it's flashing, people who cross could face a $56 ticket in Seattle. (Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com)

Q: In Seattle, is it legal for pedestrians to continue to enter the crosswalk after the signal has turned red and started counting down?

I have noticed that pedestrians will continue to enter the crosswalk after the countdown has started. In fact, if the countdown has run down to three or four seconds they will run to get in it, only to slow to a regular pace once entered.

Traffic stacks up, waiting for these people to clear the crosswalk. With downtown traffic getting worse all the time, you would think the police would be poised at these intersections writing tickets.

“If they step off the curb after the hand is flashing, they’re essentially jaywalking,” she said.

The fine is $56.

Witt cited section 11.40.160 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements. (RCW 46.61.240(4))

Police acknowledge that they see people enter crosswalks after the orange hand light flashes. But because of staffing levels, don’t expect to see police at multiple downtown intersections waiting only for jaywalkers.

However, on April 29, police did perform pedestrian crosswalk enforcement patrols at 41st and Stone Way North and the 2800 block of Airport Way South. Those were more focused on drivers not yielding to pedestrians.

At 41st and Stone Way North, officers say they issued 40 right-of-way tickets to motorists, one ticket for failure to wear a bicycle helmet, two tickets for drivers not having proof of insurance and one for expired car tabs.

In the 2800 block of Airport Way South, police reported seeing 11 right-of-way violations by motorists.